diff --git a/src/jqLite.js b/src/jqLite.js
index 1ba270b671d3..6b3b44008727 100644
--- a/src/jqLite.js
+++ b/src/jqLite.js
@@ -129,12 +129,7 @@ function JQLitePatchJQueryRemove(name, dispatchThis) {
       for(setIndex = 0, setLength = set.length; setIndex < setLength; setIndex++) {
         element = jqLite(set[setIndex]);
         if (fireEvent) {
-          events = element.data('events');
-          if ( (fns = events && events.$destroy) ) {
-            forEach(fns, function(fn){
-              fn.handler();
-            });
-          }
+          element.triggerHandler('$destroy');
         } else {
           fireEvent = !fireEvent;
         }